Australia 20 March to 7 April

You have two weeks (24 March - 7 April).

I would spend it all between the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast, including a trip to Fraser Island.

The weather is still very warm (and mostly sunny), and the ocean is warm for swimming too. You can easily enjoy the Gold Coast (hostels there - YHA Main Beach for example), and Noosa Heads (YHA also) - and you can experience both of these regions without a car.

There are some lovely national parks with oceanview hikes in both the Gold Coast and Noosa. Cheap flights are possible - see www.iwantthatflight.com.au for domestic fares Melbourne (MEL) to Coolangatta Gold Coast (OOL), or to Maroochydore Sunshine Coast (MCY).

Alternatively, you could have a week on the Gold Coast (or Sunshine Coast) and then bus or fly to Proserpine, and have six days in Airlie Beach (Whitsundays) - that's good too. However we spent Easter in Airlie Beach once, and it did rain the whole time.

Thanks, ianw6705!

I appreciate these tips. I'm definitely considering Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.

Do you think it would be worth considering Ningaloo/Exmouth this time of year or is it quite risky for cyclones? I've never been to Uluru and am quite interested -- do folks avoid the centre due to heat at this time of year? Any other reason not to go?

Thanks so much. I appreciate you taking the time to share advice.

Ningaloo should be fine ... it would be very late in any cyclone season, and it has been quiet this year. And the weather in Alice Springs / Uluru might still be warm (up to 34°C say) - but mostly not too bad at all.

You have three big choices - west / centre / east - so it's up to you! All would be very good. For an iconic and unique experience, I would probably head to Alice if you've not been there, but it's a close call.

Tough decision! But a fun one...

I'm going to keep searching on this forum for details on both Ningaloo and Uluru/Alice Springs as I've not exhausted reading others' threads.

Thanks again for the advice. I may pop back onto this thread with some more specific questions as I learn more.

I appreciate it!

Ningaloo is a bit hard to get to ... even if you pay the steep airfare Perth - Exmouth, what do you do then? It's a long way around from Exmouth township to Turquoise Bay etc.

up to you but as you only have 2 weeks and fly out of Sydney - I'd train it from melb to Sydney and stay in Sydney for two weeks given there is so much to do in Sydney

I'd agree that a couple of days in Sydney at the end would be good, but it's possible the OP has been there before (since they have done some "East Coast" Australia previously). Whatever, two weeks in Sydney is at least a week too long.

The big call is Ningaloo, Uluru, or Cairns ... and I agree it's a tough decision. I would still do one week Red Centre and one week Far North Queensland myself. Assuming they wish to go further afield than Gold Coast | Sunshine Coast.

Based on what you have done before I'd definitely be recommending Uluru/Alice etc for a decent chunk of this. Very different to what you have seen, but very beautiful. at least 3 days to see both, and 5 is more realistic.
Whitsundays are lively, and March/April is getting on the end of the wet. Still hot and humid but especially further south, getting bearable. Well worth a look.
Fraser Island I also love, so you could easily make that your other week or so Whitsundays, then down to Fraser for a few days and on to Brisbane etc.
Ningaloo I think will kill your holiday by the time you factor in flight and transfers. Worth it on a longer stay, or if this was a west coast holiday, but bot if you're seeing other parts.
Gold Coast hinterland is lovely, but not sure the coast itself would offer something spectacular.

I might suggest that, since you have done lots of the coast of Oz and you like hiking, that you head inland up the Great Dividing Range through the bush. Lots of hiking and so on although it will be cooler up in the hills and places like Wangratta and places along the Murray River have their charms as well as Mt Baw Baw, Mt Buller, Mt Hotham Halls Gap are all great for day hikes and they will be at their low season point outside the summer and outside the ski season (of course that last one doesn't really matter with HG).

I certainly wouldn't waste a whole fortnight in Sydney. Urgh.